Conference USA Win Totals Odds: Once Again Realignment Shakes Up Conference USA

Another Year, More Defections and Additions to the Conference USA Membership

With all the teams coming and going, trying to predict an order of finish and make sense of the Conference USA Win Total Odds could be quite the challenge.

Two of the three teams to finish with a winning record in Conference USA during the 2022 season are now in the American Athletic Conference with UTSA (8-0 in conference play) and North Texas (6-2 in Conference USA) joining Charlotte, UAB, Florida Atlantic and Rice in the reshuffled AAC after UCF, Cincinnati and Houston left the American to join the Big 12.

Liberty is one of the new teams to keep an eye on while former Football Championship Subdivision powers Jacksonville State and Sam Houston are wild cards when it comes to how the 2023 Conference USA season will play out.

When looking at the NCAA football schedule, Jacksonville State welcomes UTEP to town, FIU meets Louisiana Tech while New Mexico State begins with a non-conference matchup with UMass in the three games involving Conference USA teams on Aug. 26.

Keep on reading for more information on NCAA odds involving the Conference USA teams heading into the 2023 season.

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

• 2022 Record: 9-5 (6-2 Conference USA)
• Odds to Win Conference USA Title: +145
• Odds to Win the National Title: +5000
• Expected Win Total: 8.5 (Over +110, Under -140)

Western Kentucky doesn’t lack for star power thanks to the return of quarterback Austin Reed (4,744 passing yards), receiver Malachi Corley (101 catches, 1,293 yards), and edge rusher JaQues Evans (nine sacks, 14 tackles for loss).

Cincinnati receiver L’Christian Smith, Tennessee receiver Jimmy Holiday, Colorado defensive lineman Ryan Williams and Nebraska defensive lineman Marquis Black are among the players added via transfer.

Coming off a nine-win season, expectations seem a little lower with a price of +110 to go over 8.5 wins, according to the Conference USA Win Total Odds.

Liberty Flames

• 2022 Record: 8-5
• Odds to Win Conference USA Title: +250
• Odds to Win the National Title: +5000
• Expected Win Total: 9 (Over -110, Under -120)

Liberty has won plenty of games playing as an FBS independent and now looks to make a run at the Conference USA title in its first season. The Conference USA Win Total Odds have Liberty with the highest expected win total.

Fewer than 10 starters return. The Flames secured commitments from transfers out of the Power-5 conference, including Arkansas running back James Jointer, receiver Victor Jones and Reese Smith from Nebraska and West Virginia, Texas Tech offensive lineman Jack Tucker, West Virginia offensive lineman Jordan White, Wake Forest running back Quinton Cooley, North Carolina linebacker Bryson Jennings, Colorado cornerback Joshua Wiggins, Georgia Tech edge rusher Grey Carroll.

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders

• 2022 Record: 8-5 (4-4 Conference USA)
• Odds to Win Conference USA Title: +400
• Odds to Win the National Title: +100000
• Expected Win Total: 6.5 (Over -125, Under -105)

The Blue Raiders finished in the middle of the pack in Conference USA in total defense a season ago and return most of that group so expect to see some growth on that side of the ball.

Replacing quarterback Chase Cunningham will be no easy task.

Receivers Justin Olson and Kalani Norris come in from North Carolina and Georgia Tech. Former Oregon linebacker Brandon Buckner, Memphis cornerback Tyrell Raby and Jackson State offensive tackle Devin Hayes are among the incoming transfers to keep an eye on.

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs

• 2022 Record: 3-9 (2-6 Conference USA)
• Odds to Win Conference USA Title: +700
• Odds to Win the National Title: +100000
• Expected Win Total: 5.5 (Over -170, Under +140)

There is some buzz about this Louisiana Tech team and some of that is a result of the arrival of former Boise State quarterback Hank Bachmeier. Bachmeier threw for 3,080 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2021 before being limited to four games last season.

Louisiana Tech saw some key players transfer elsewhere. The biggest additions via the transfer portal are running back Craig Williams, receiver Tre Harris, linebacker Kolbe Fields, offensive lineman Mykel Janise, safeties Zach Zimos, Isaiah McElvane, and Roderick Roberson, edge rusher Jayden Gray, cornerback Keyshawn Paul.

Those newcomers will be asked to contribute immediately and improve one of the worst defenses in Conference USA in 2022.

UTEP Miners

• 2022 Record: 5-7 (3-5)
• Odds to Win Conference USA Title: +1200
• Odds to Win the National Title: +10000
• Expected Win Total: 5.5 (Over -120, Under -110)

UTEP should be able to score points thanks to the return of quarterback Gavin Harrison and running back Deion Hankins. Receiver Tyrin Smith originally headed to Texas A&M before returning to UTEP. Losing offensive tackle Jeremiah Byers to Florida State is a big blow.

Five of the top 14 tacklers a season ago were either freshmen or sophomores, so that could bode well moving forward.

New Mexico State Aggies

• 2022 Record: 7-6
• Odds to Win Conference USA Title: +3300
• Odds to Win the National Title: +100000
• Expected Win Total: 5 (Over -130, Under Even)

New Mexico State made the jump from a two-win team to a 7-6 squad under head coach Jerry Kill.

Quarterback Diego Pavia looks to make the next step. The defense made significant strides a season ago.

Nine of the top 20 tacklers in 2022 were either freshmen or sophomores.

Safety Myles Bowser, defensive lineman Dion Wilson and cornerback Keonte Glinton were key incoming transfers.

Florida International Golden Panthers

• 2022 Record: 4-8 (2-6 Conference USA)
• Odds to Win Conference USA Title: +6000
• Odds to Win the National Title: +100000
• Expected Win Total: 3 (Over -140, Under +110)

FIU returns quarterback Grayson James and plenty of questions on the defensive side of the ball.

Losing star receiver Tyrese Chambers to Maryland is a problem. As for the incoming transfers, former Miami linebacker Avery Huff is a player to keep an eye on.

Jacksonville State Gamecocks

• 2022 Record: 9-2
• Odds to Win Conference USA Title: N/A
• Odds to Win the National Title: N/A
• Expected Win Total: 5 (Over +120, Under -150)

Jacksonville State won the 1992 Division II national title before making the move to the FCS level and winning nine Ohio Valley Conference titles in 18 years. The Gamecocks reached the FCS quarterfinals three times and lost in the 2015 national title game.

The Gamecocks are coached by former West Virginia, Michigan, and Arizona head coach Rich Rodriguez. He brought in receiver Dallan Wright from Virginia Tech and running back Malik Jackson from Louisiana-Monroe.

Sam Houston Bearkats

• 2022 Record: 5-4
• Odds to Win Conference USA Title: N/A
• Odds to Win the National Title: N/A
• Expected Win Total: 4 (Over -110, Under -120)

Sam Houston was a powerhouse at the FCS level and won the FCS national title following the 2020 season. Since 2001, the Bearkats have won eight conference titles.

This might be the hardest team to project. There was very little attrition through the transfer portal and if the recruiting was on point, that could be a good sign.

The defense might be a little ahead of the offense when the season gets underway.

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